Jim Carrollon music

Sweet charity as Cake Sale goes global

It's the charity record that keeps on giving. Now comes news that The Cake Sale album is to be released in Britain and the US.

A fund-raiser for Oxfam Ireland's Make Trade Fair campaign, the album features a heavyweight selection of Irish and international musicians including Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody, Damien Rice, Bell X1, Josh Ritter, Glen Hansard and Neil Hannon.

Bell X1's Brian Crosby is the main driving force behind the album, which has sold 34,000 copies in Ireland since its release last year.

"It has completely exceeded expectations," he says. "We hoped it would go gold to cover our costs. Instead, it has already raised about €200,000 and the royalty cheques are still coming in."

Unlike many charity records, all the publishing royalties accrued by the release also benefit the charity. "We negotiated worldwide rights and set up a label, Oxfam Publishing, to administer the royalties," he explains.

Crosby believes it has been an eye-opener for the charity.

"Oxfam Ireland didn't have any experience of any of this at the beginning so they left it to us to drive the project and they helped us out initially in any way they could.

"Traditionally, I think charity records are a hit-and-miss affair, but everyone was blown away when the first sales cheque came in. It has also raised the charity's profile and they're now really excited about releasing it abroad because they see the potential."

The Cake Sale will be released digitally in Britain on September 10th, while the album will be released on the Yep Rock label in the US on October 16th.

Plans for a Cake Sale live show, though, have been nixed. "We've had a couple of attempts at organising it," admits Crosby, "but we really need everyone there. There are some busy bands in the line-up, and touring schedules always seem to clash. But we're open to doing it in the future."

According to Siobhan Elsom from Oxfam Ireland, proceeds from the album go into the charity's "unrestricted fund" which supports projects in 10 African countries including Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda and Sudan.

"One of the partners we work with is the Tanga AIDS Working Group," explains Elsom. "They're a local organisation in Tanzania who provide everything from education and counselling to testing and holistic medicines."

 Verve regain their nerve

"You're more likely to get all four Beatles on stage" was how Richard Ashcroft once responded to a question about a Verve reunion.

Last week, though, Ashcroft rejoined Nick McCabe, Simon Jones and Pete Salisbury and announced a number of British shows for the reformed Verve later this year. The band's last show together was at Slane Castle in 1998.

Might this second reunion have something to do with the lack of successful solo careers? After all, Ashcroft's three underwhelming solo albums never quite scaled the same critical or commercial heights as Bitter Sweet Symphony.

Will Fire warm up the Park?

The Phoenix Park deer will have company this autumn. MCD Concerts are planning to hold eight outdoor concerts in the largest enclosed city park in Europe - or Dublin anyway. On the Record assumes a large tent will be involved or your ticket will have to come with gloves and scarf attached.

While there has been much chatter about who might be playing (with Arcade Fire garnering the most punts), the park in winter is not the only exotic venue choice this year.

Take veteran British heavy metallers Diamond Head's forthcoming Irish tour. While there are a few coventional venues on the schedule, the band, who influenced Metallica and Megadeth, will also play in the Round Room in Dublin's Mansion House, headline a show at the natural ampitheatre at Ballykeeffe Wood and Nature Reserve in Co Kilkenny and perform at St John's Castle in Limerick.

The skip to Skibb

Let's hope that some music festival organisers in Austin, Texas don't have a hankering to call their attorneys about the name used by the newest Irish summer festival on the block.

Cork X Southwest is a one-day festival which takes over Skibbereen on Sunday, August 5th and will feature such bands and DJs with Cork accents as The Frank & Walters, Fred, Stanley Super 800, John Spillane and Fish Go Deep.

There will also be a couple of blow-ins on the bill, but CorkXSW organisers plan to keep these to a minimum.

More info from www.corksxw.com